Digital identities

Oracle systems targeted in unverified data theft claims, Google warns

Google has warned that hackers are emailing company executives, claiming to have stolen sensitive data from Oracle business applications. The group behind the campaign identifies itself as affiliated with the Cl0p ransomware gang.

In a statement, Google said the attackers target executives at multiple organisations with extortion emails linked to Oracle’s E-Business Suite. The company stated that it lacks sufficient evidence to verify the claims or confirm whether any data has been taken.

Neither Cl0p nor Oracle responded to requests for comment. Google did not provide additional information about the scale or specific campaign targets.

The cl0p ransomware gang has been involved in several high-profile extortion cases, often using claims of data theft to pressure organisations into paying ransoms, even when breaches remain unverified.

Google advised recipients to treat such messages cautiously and report any suspicious emails to security teams while investigations continue.

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Few Americans rely on AI chatbots for news

A recent Pew Research survey shows that relatively few Americans use AI chatbots like ChatGPT to get news. About 2 percent say they often get news this way, and 7 percent say they do so sometimes.

The majority of US adults thus do not turn to AI chatbots as a regular news source, signalling a limited role for chatbots in news dissemination, at least for now.

However, this finding is part of a broader pattern: despite the growing usage of chatbots, news consumption via these tools remains in the niche. Pew’s data also shows that 34 percent of US adults report using ChatGPT, which has roughly doubled since 2023.

While AI chatbots are not yet mainstream for news, their limited uptake raises questions about trust, accuracy and the user motivation behind news consumption.

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Meta to use AI interactions for content and ad recommendations

Meta has announced that beginning 16 December 2025, it will start personalising content and ad recommendations on Facebook, Instagram and other apps using users’ interactions with its generative AI features.

The update means that if you chat with Meta’s AI about a topic, such as hiking, the system may infer your interests and show related content, including posts from hiking groups or ads for boots. Meta emphasises that content and ad recommendations already use signals like likes, shares and follows, but the new change adds AI interactions as another signal.

Meta will notify users starting 7 October via in-app messages and emails to maintain user control. Users will retain access to settings such as Ads Preferences and feed controls to adjust what they see. Meta says it will not use sensitive AI chat content (religion, health, political beliefs, etc.) to personalise ads.

If users have linked those accounts in Meta’s Accounts Centre, interactions with AI on particular accounts will only be used for cross-account personalisation. Also, unless a WhatsApp account is added to the same Accounts Centre, AI interactions won’t influence experience in other apps.

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Dutch AI actress ignites Hollywood backlash

An AI ‘actress’ created in the Netherlands has sparked controversy across the global film industry. Tilly Norwood, designed by Dutch actress Eline van der Velde, is capable of talking, waving, and crying, and is reportedly being pitched to talent agencies.

Hollywood unions and stars have voiced strong objections. US-based SAG-AFTRA said Norwood was trained on the work of professional actors without life experience or human emotion, warning that its use could undermine existing contracts.

Actresses Natasha Lyonne and Emily Blunt also criticised the Dutch project, with Lyonne calling for a boycott of agencies working with Norwood, and Blunt describing it as ‘really scary’.

Van der Velde defended her AI creation, describing Norwood as a piece of art rather than a replacement for performers. She argued the project should be judged as a new genre rather than compared directly to human actors.

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China’s new K visa sparks public backlash

China’s new K visa, aimed at foreign professionals in science and technology, has sparked heated debate and online backlash. The scheme, announced in August and launched this week, has been compared by Indian media to the US H-1B visa.

Tens of thousands of social media users in China have voiced fears that the programme will worsen job competition in an already difficult market. Comments also included xenophobic remarks, particularly directed at Indian nationals.

State media outlets have stepped in, defending the policy as a sign of China’s openness while stressing that it is not a simple work permit or immigration pathway. Officials say the visa is designed to attract graduates and researchers from top institutions in STEM fields.

The government has yet to clarify whether the visa allows foreign professionals to work, adding to uncertainty. Analysts note that language barriers, cultural differences, and China’s political environment may pose challenges for newcomers despite Beijing’s drive to attract global talent.

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NIST pushes longer passphrases and MFA over strict rules

The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has updated its password guidelines, urging organisations to drop strict complexity rules. NIST states that requirements such as mandatory symbols and frequent resets often harm usability without significantly improving security.

Instead, the agency recommends using blocklists for breached or commonly used passwords, implementing hashed storage, and rate limiting to resist brute-force attacks. Multi-factor authentication and password managers are encouraged as additional safeguards.

Password length remains essential. Short strings are easily cracked, but users should be allowed to create longer passphrases. NIST recommends limiting only extremely long passwords that slow down hashing.

The new approach replaces mandatory resets with changes triggered only after suspected compromise, such as a data breach. NIST argues this method reduces fatigue while improving overall account protection.

Businesses adopting these guidelines must audit their existing policies, reconfigure authentication systems, deploy blocklists, and train employees to adapt accordingly. Clear communication of the changes will be key to ensuring compliance.

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Cybercriminals abandon Kido extortion attempt amid public backlash

Hackers who stole data and images of children from Kido Schools have removed the material from the darknet and claimed to delete it. The group, calling itself Radiant, had demanded a £600,000 Bitcoin ransom, but Kido did not pay.

Radiant initially blurred the photos but kept the data online before later removing all content and issuing an apology. Experts remain sceptical, warning that cybercriminals often claim to delete stolen data while secretly keeping or selling it.

The breach exposed details of around 8,000 children and their families, sparking widespread outrage. Cybersecurity experts described the extortion attempt as a ‘new low’ for hackers and said Radiant likely backtracked due to public pressure.

Radiant said it accessed Kido’s systems by buying entry from an ‘initial access broker’ and then stealing data from accounts linked to Famly, an early years education platform. The Famly told the BBC its infrastructure was not compromised.

Kido confirmed the incident and stated that they are working with external specialists and authorities. With no ransom paid and Radiant abandoning its attempt, the hackers appear to have lost money on the operation.

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Grok controversies shadow Musk’s new Grokipedia project

Elon Musk has announced that his company xAI is developing Grokipedia, a planned Wikipedia rival powered by its Grok AI chatbot. He described the project as a step towards achieving xAI’s mission of understanding the universe.

In a post on X, Musk called Grokipedia a ‘necessary improvement over Wikipedia,’ renewing his criticism of the platform’s funding model and what he views as ideological bias. He has long accused Wikimedia of leaning left and reflecting ‘woke’ influence.

Despite Musk’s efforts to position Grok as a solution to bias, the chatbot has occasionally turned on its creator. Earlier this year, it named Musk among the people doing the most harm to the US, alongside Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

The Grok 4 update also drew controversy when users reported that the chatbot praised and adopted the surname of a controversial historical figure in its responses, sparking criticism of its safety. Such incidents raised questions about the limits of Musk’s oversight.

Grok is already integrated into X as a conversational assistant, providing context and explanations in real time. Musk has said it will power the platform’s recommendation algorithm by late 2025, allowing users to customise their feeds dynamically through direct requests.

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OpenAI’s Sora app raises tension between mission and profit

The US AI company, OpenAI, has entered the social media arena with Sora, a new app offering AI-generated videos in a TikTok-style feed.

The launch has stirred debate among current and former researchers, some praising its technical achievement while others worry it diverges from OpenAI’s nonprofit mission to develop AI for the benefit of humanity.

Researchers have expressed concerns about deepfakes, addictive loops and the ethical risks of AI-driven feeds. OpenAI insists Sora is designed for creativity rather than engagement, highlighting safeguards such as reminders for excessive scrolling and prioritisation of content from known contacts.

The company argues that revenue from consumer apps helps fund advanced AI research, including its pursuit of artificial general intelligence.

A debate that reflects broader tensions within OpenAI: balancing commercial growth with its founding mission. Critics fear the consumer push could dilute its focus, while executives maintain products like ChatGPT and Sora expand public access and provide essential funding.

Regulators are watching closely, questioning whether the company’s for-profit shift undermines its stated commitment to safety and ethical development.

Sora’s future remains uncertain, but its debut marks a significant expansion of AI-powered social platforms. Whether OpenAI can avoid the pitfalls that defined earlier social media models will be a key test of both its mission and its technology.

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Instagram head explains why ads feel like eavesdropping

Adam Mosseri has denied long-standing rumours that the platform secretly listens to private conversations to deliver targeted ads. In a video he described as ‘myth busting’, Mosseri said Instagram does not use the phone’s microphone to eavesdrop on users.

He argued that such surveillance would not only be a severe breach of privacy but would also quickly drain phone batteries and trigger visible microphone indicators.

Instead, Mosseri outlined four reasons why adverts may appear suspiciously relevant: online searches and browsing history, the influence of friends’ online behaviour, rapid scrolling that leaves subconscious impressions, and plain coincidence.

According to Mosseri, Instagram users may mistake targeted advertising for surveillance because algorithms incorporate browsing data from advertisers, friends’ interests, and shared patterns across users.

He stressed that the perception of being overheard is often the result of ad targeting mechanics rather than eavesdropping.

Despite his explanation, Mosseri admitted the rumour is unlikely to disappear. Many viewers of his video remained sceptical, with some comments suggesting his denial only reinforced their suspicions about how social media platforms operate.

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